https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 RFE/RL's latest news, features, commentary, and multimedia content on Lebanon, Israel, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iraq. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:28:16 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As Washington and Tehran edge toward a preliminary peace deal, renewed fighting in Lebanon has cast uncertainty over the diplomatic track. https://www.rferl.org/a/former-senior-trump-nsc-official-says-diplomacy-alive-as-us-iran-battle-for-leverage/33770891.html https://www.rferl.org/a/former-senior-trump-nsc-official-says-diplomacy-alive-as-us-iran-battle-for-leverage/33770891.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:41:12 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Some experts believe the recent emergence of fiber-optic drones piloted by Hezbollah militants indicates Russia is feeding Iran intelligence about drone warfare, others believe a more worrying potential is more likely. https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-iran-fiber-optic-drones-russia-ukraine-war/33761841.html https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-iran-fiber-optic-drones-russia-ukraine-war/33761841.html Thu, 21 May 2026 20:28:57 +0200 FeaturesIranRussiaUkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East As Iran struggles with the economic fallout from months of conflict, Afghan refugees and migrant workers in the Islamic republic say they are paying a disproportionate price. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-afghanistan-migrants-war/33761126.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-afghanistan-migrants-war/33761126.html Wed, 20 May 2026 17:30:41 +0200 IranFeaturesAfghanistanThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East RFE/RL, Mark Cancian, senior adviser with the Defense and Security Department at CSIS, told RFE/RL the US is focused on finding an "exit" from the crisis -- even as major disagreements remain over sanctions, nuclear restrictions, and Iran's claims over the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/csis-interview-mark-cancian-iran-trump-exit/33760437.html https://www.rferl.org/a/csis-interview-mark-cancian-iran-trump-exit/33760437.html Tue, 19 May 2026 20:35:29 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The summit follows Xi Jinping's meeting with US President Donald Trump and is expected to cover future energy cooperation, Ukraine, and the war in Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-xi-china-russia-trump-war-ukraine-iran-power-siberia/33760042.html https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-xi-china-russia-trump-war-ukraine-iran-power-siberia/33760042.html Tue, 19 May 2026 09:51:47 +0200 ChinaFeaturesIranThe Rundown HeadlineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The Trump-Xi summit offered fresh clues about how Beijing is positioning itself on Iran amid growing tensions over sanctions, regional security, and the future of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-china-iran-war-/33758314.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-china-iran-war-/33758314.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:27:38 +0200 News AnalysisIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle EastChina Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute focusing on national security and transatlantic relations, told RFE/RL in an interview that Iran appears to be borrowing directly from Russia’s negotiation strategy. https://www.rferl.org/a/coffey-hudson-iran-kremlin-negotiation-russia/33757144.html https://www.rferl.org/a/coffey-hudson-iran-kremlin-negotiation-russia/33757144.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:35:24 +0200 IranNewsRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The conflict involving Iran is revealing new lessons about how artificial intelligence is being weaponized in modern warfare and statecraft. https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html Wed, 13 May 2026 17:14:34 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Power has become increasingly decentralized in Iran following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the selection of his son as the new supreme leader. So, who holds power in the Islamic republic now? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html Wed, 13 May 2026 16:37:57 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The latest exchange between Washington and Tehran over a proposed path toward de-escalation has raised new questions about what comes next in the growing crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html Tue, 12 May 2026 01:08:04 +0200 News AnalysisIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iranian outlets with ties to the IRGC have floated the idea that Tehran assert control over undersea fiber-optic cables running under the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say the proposal has little legal merit but warn that Iranian sabotage remains a threat. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:49:50 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Former senior US diplomat Gordon Gray, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs under President George W. Bush, says indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are likely to continue despite what he described as significant pain and pressure on both sides. https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html Mon, 11 May 2026 09:52:53 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US President Donald Trump described the cease-fire with Iran as being on "life support," adding he is considering restarting naval escorts -- dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom -- through the Strait of Hormuz amid a continuing a deadlock over how to bring the conflict to an end. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East